Residential conversion planned for Nipper Building, and another residential redev for downtown Albany
A plan to convert 991 Broadway in Albany's Warehouse District -- AKA, the building on which Nipper sits -- to apartments and retail space is on the agenda for the city planning board next Thursday.
The proposed project would create 65-75 residential units on the building's upper floors, with 7,750 square feet of retail space on the first floor. To go along with the conversion, there'd be approximately 156 parking spaces (some of which would be used by 960 Broadway). From the project's planning board application:
No significant exterior alterations to the Nipper building are proposed. It would be anticipated that facade restoration, general window repair, replacement and new general cleanup of the site will occur. Interior alterations include structural repairs, new enclosed exit stairs, build-out of apartments and commercial space and parking garage. The single sort building adjacent to the Nipper building [to the south] is proposed to be demolished and ancillary parking provided.
We have a call in with the applicant and we're hoping to find out more.
The building is big -- more than 100,000 square feet -- and includes a courtyard cutout in the middle. It's currently used primarily by the Arnoff Moving and Storage Company, and it's been up for sale since December 2014.
This would be the second large residential conversion in the neighborhood. Earlier this year a plan to convert 960 Broadway into apartments and restaurant space got the OK from the planning board (that project shares backers with the Nipper Building project). And a restaurant conversion at 897 Broadway (next to Wolff's) is also in the works. The city recently adopted a new Warehouse District Residential and Commercial Overlay aimed at smoothing the way for mixed-use development along the major corridors of the longtime light-industrial neighborhood.
Here are a few other bits from the planning board agenda, including another residential conversion project in downtown Albany...
99 Pine Street
There's an application to convert the upper three floors of the Capital Center office building at 99 Pine Street (at North Pearl Street) in downtown Albany into 35 residential units. Projected cost: $3.8 million.
The residential conversion would include a fitness center, theater room, shared terrace, and dog area, according to plans filed with the application. Apartment sizes would range from 640 square feet to about 1,000 square feet.
Saint Rose
The planning board agenda also includes two projects from Saint Rose:
+ A plan to convert 198 Partridge Street into student housing.
+ A plan to convert two structures at 405 Western Ave into student housing.
Both properties are already owned by the College of Saint Rose, according to city tax records.
Earlier on AOA:
+ Approvals for Warehouse District projects, and a potential complication
+ The latest chunk of the Rezone Albany project is up for a public look
+ Warehouse District wine bar, new supermarket among plans up for review in Albany
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Comments
Shall we have a pool for the average monthly rent for these units? I'm going with $1200/month for a 1BR, I think they'll be shooting for the Saratoga/Clifton Park crowd.
... said Sean on Apr 15, 2016 at 2:15 PM | link
Sean,
My bet is they will charge a sufficient rent that covers the costs of doing business and allows the entrepreneur to make a reasonable profit.
... said Anonymous on Apr 15, 2016 at 2:40 PM | link
Nice to see the redevelopment and investment in the area continue. I wonder if Huck Finn or some other local business will try to buy the dog statue. It'd definitely be a fun art installation to see show up near the doggy area of Washington Park.
... said Sean (not that one) on Apr 15, 2016 at 3:05 PM | link
The dog must stay. There is great appeal in telling people you live in the "Nipper Building"!
... said Lucy on Apr 16, 2016 at 8:48 AM | link
Anonymous - but PILOT program would still be required...
... said Mike on Apr 16, 2016 at 9:43 AM | link
A cruel irony would be if the developers kept Nipper, but didn't allow tenants to have dogs.
... said LB on Apr 16, 2016 at 12:16 PM | link